Unitary metallic and elastic slide and button loop



L. w. JOYCE 2,035,433

UNITARY METALLIC AND ELASTIC SLIDE AND BUTTON LOOP I March 24, 1936.

' Filed March 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheetl ELASTIC,

NO N ELASTIC LYNDb/v W Joyce yawy gm- 24, 1936. L, JoycE 2,035,433

UNITARY METALLIC AN D ELASTIC SLIDE AND BUTTON 'LOOP Filed March '27,1934 2 Sheets-Shea 2 LyNDo/v W.Joyc5 Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

UNITARY MIETALLIC AND ELASTIC SLIDE AND BUTTON LOOP Lyndon W. Joyce,Greensboro, Southern Webbing Mills,

N. 0., assignor to Inc., Greensboro,

This invention relates to suspender elements, of general usefulness, andparticularly adapted to the shoulder straps of overalls.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a unitarymetallic slide and elastic button loop.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of thecharacter described a cord.

elastic button loop unitarily associated with the slide.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reservoir ofelasticity within the bounds of the metallic slide upon which the buttonloop can draw when stretched, enabling the button loop to be made shortand yet have the elasticity of a longer loop.

Still another object of the invention contemplates a unitary structurein which the slide and button engaging portion are rigid or of metal,being connected by an elastic linkage.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionof preferred and practical embodiments thereof proceed.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of the followingspecification and throughout the several figures of which the samecharacters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

v Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section showing one embodiment ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is a side sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1showing how the webbing of the suspender is looped through the slide;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the slide divorced from the elasticbutton loop;

Figure 4 is a slightly modified form of the invention in which theimmediate portion of the button loop which engages the button ismetallic, the same being connected to the slide by an elastic link orsection;

Figure 5 is another form of the invention in which the button engagingportion is nonelastic, non-metallic substance;

Figure 6 is another modification of the invention in which the elasticbutton loop extends from a central portion of the lower bar of theslide;

Figure 7 is a side sectional vicw'taken along the line 1-1 of that formof the invention shown in Figure 6, illustratingthe method of loopingthe suspender Webbing through the slide in order to bring the lower barat the front of the webbing;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the slide shown in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a front elevation partly in section of another modificationof the invention;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the slide shown in Figure '9; t

Figure 11 is a section taken along the line ll-ll of Figure 9; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the cord elastic indicating itsstructure.

Referring now in detail to the several figures and first adverting tothat form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the numeral 1represents a three-bar metallic slide which may be of any desiredconstruction, it being understood that where the term slide is usedthroughout the specification and claims it is to be regarded assufiiciently comprehensive to include any member having a slidingfunction upon the suspender web or shoulder strap, whether or not itfunctions also as a buckle. It is here shown as of sheet metal pressedinto slightly channeled cross section insofar as the top, middle andside bars are concerned, but having the lower bar 2 deeply channeled forthe reception of the cord elastic 3. The lower bar is provided withstruck-over lugs 4 which may be bent over the cord elastic after thelatter has been seated in the channeled lower member, holding the cordin place. It is contemplated that the cord will not be held fixed by thelugs 4, but shall be mobile with respect to said lugs when the cord isstretched. The elastic cord contemplated by the present inventionconsists as shown in Figure 12, of a plurality of rubber strands l0covered while under tension so as to have a substantially circular crosssection.

The elastic cord on the outside of the slide I is looped so as to form abutton loop 5, the free ends 6 and 1 of the cord being brought togetherunder a metallic clamp 8 which secures said free ends against slippingand also embraces the opposite side 9 of the cord constricting it into asubstantially single shank or stem.

The unitary metallic slide and elastic button loop may be attached tothe webbing I l of the shoulder strap or suspender in theQnannerindicated in Figure 2, the webbing being brought back of the top bar,between the top and middle bars and beneath the lower bar, then upwardlyalong the rear of the lower bar, then passed between the lower bar andthe middle bar around the front of the latter and then to the back ofthe middle bar the free end of the webbing extending downwardly fromthis point, behind the slide. It will thus appear that the portion l2 ofthe cord elastic which lies within the channel of the lower bar isconcealed within the fold of the suspender webbing.

In use, the loop 5 engages a button secured to an inelastic portion ofthe overall, the cord elastic being thus put under tension. Although theportion of the elastic button loop which depends below the slide isrelatively short, ample elasticity is provided by the portion l2 of theelastic cord which lies within the channel of the lower bar 2, and whichadds its quota of expansive and contractive capacity to that of theentire elastic portion of the button loop.

The use of the cord elastic in place of elastic webbing also has theadvantage of prolonging the life of the rubber since the cord elastic byVirtue of the shape of its cross section, makes line contact with thebody of the wearer and therefore absorbs the minimum of moisture fromclothing wet with perspiration. Where woven elastic webbing is usedevery mesh in the webbing forms a capillary pore and greedily absorbsthe perspiration resulting in quick deterioration and rotting of therubber.

That part of the cord elastic which is enclosed in the channel of thelower bar 2 is kept from contact with the suspender webbing onv one sideby the metal of the lower bar, and on the other side by the lugs 4 sothat even though the suspender webbing becomes wet, the cord elasticwill remain relatively dry.

Figure 4 shows a form of the invention which differs from the formdescribed in connection with Figures 1, 2, and 3., only in the fact thatthe button engaging loop I3 is made of metal and preferably integralwith the clamp I4. The cord elastic 3 including the portion I 2 whichlies in the channel of the lower bar 2 terminates at the points 1.5 and16 within the clamp l4.

Still another slightly modified form of the invention is shown in Figure5, the button engaging loop l1 not being integral either with the cordelastic 3 or the clamp 8. Said button loop may therefore be made of anydesirable material, for example an inelastic cord, or of metal orcellulose construction.

Figure 6 shows a modification of the invention which is made possible byvarying the inter-folding of the suspender webbing H with respect to theslide. In this form, the webbing is brought downwardly at the back ofthe top and middle bars, passed beneath the middle bar and upwardly infront of the middle bar, between the middle and top bar, back of, andabove the top bar, then downwardly in front of both the top and middlebars through the space between the middle and lower bars and downwardlyback of the lower bar. This puts the lower bar of the slide in front ofthe webbing instead of its being surrounded by the webbing as in thefirst described form of the invention. The lower bar which in thisinstance is designated by the reference character I8 is of deepchanneled construction and has a hole IS in the middle of the lower sideof the channel. The cord elastic 3 is formed into a button engaging loop5, the two sides of the. cord elastic being pressed togefier by a clamp8 and the end portions of the cord elastic passed through the hole 19 inthe lower bar 18 and disposed in opposite directions in the channel ofsaid lower bar. Said bar is provided near its ends with lugs 20 and 2|which are struck up against the end portions of the elastic cord withsufficient pressure to hold the cord in place. That part of the cordwithin the channel and between the lugs 20 forms an elastic continuationof the button loop.

Referring now to Figures 9, l0, and 11, still another modification ofthe invention is shown in which the three-part slide is formed of wireand comprises a rectangular frame 22 having the side elements thereofbridged by a middle bar 23 unitarily secured in known manner to the sidemembers of the frame. The free ends of the wire constituting the frameare preferably welded together at the point 24 which will be concealedin the completed device.

The cord elastic 3 is formed into a button loop 5 by means of a clamp 8in the same manner as is indicated in Figure 6 and the free ends 25 and26 are introduced from opposite sides into the ends of a clamp 21 whichembraces the lower bar of the frame 22. The clamp is constricted againstthe ends of the cord elastic holding it in place.

In this form of the invention the suspender webbing will be folded withrespect to the slide, as is indicated in Figure 11 in the same manner asshown in Figure '7.

It is obvious that I have devised a unitary metallic slide and elasticbutton loop which can be applied cheaply and conveniently to suspendersor the shoulder straps of overalls and it is to be understood that thedetails of construction as shown and described are merely exemplary andnot to be construed as limiting the invention to those specific formsherein disclosed.

What I claim is:

1. Unitary metallic slide and elastic button loop comprising a metallicslide frame including a transverse bar, and a loop of cord elastichaving an endless bight portion secured to said bar and suspending abutton loop.

2. Unitary metallic slide and elastic loop construction comprising ametallic slide frame including a transverse cross bar providing ahousing, and a loop of cord elastic having a bight portion receivedwithin said housing and retained thereby and suspending a button loop.

3. Unitary metallic slide and elastic loop constructio'n comprising ametallic slide frame including a transverse channeled cross bar and aloop having a cord elastic suspending portion slidably arranged withinsaid channel, means for retaining said part of said elastic portionwithin said channel and a button loop suspended from said loop.

4. Unitary metallic slide and elastic loop construction comprising ametallic slide frame including a transverse lower cross bar upwardlyarched andchanneled, and a loop having a cord elastic suspending portionfreely seated within said channel and means for retaining said cordelastic within said channel the lower end of said loop having a buttonreceiving portion.

5. Unitary metallic slide and elastic loop construction comprising ametallic slide frame, including a transverse cross bar having sideflanges forming a channel, the lower flange being formed with anintermediate opening, and a loop having a cord elastic suspendingportion having part thereof received within said channel and extendingthrough the opening in said flange, and means for retaining said cordelastic within said channel the lower end of said loop having a buttonreceiving portion.

6. Unitary metallic slide and elastic loop comprising a metallic slideframe, including a transverse cross bar having a channel, and a loophaving a cord elastic suspending portion, part of which being retainedwithin said channel and constituting a reservoir of elasticityaugmenting the extent of stretch of the part of said elastic portionoutside of said channel.

7. Unitary metallic slide and elastic button loop comprising a metallicslide frame, including a transverse cross bar, having a channel, a loophaving a cord elastic portion, part of which is seated in said channel,and a suspender web enfolded with respect to said slide frame so as toconceal the channeled cross bar and the part of the cord elastic seatedtherein.

8. Suspender or shoulder strap comprising a length of fabric in enfoldedrelation with a unitary metallic slide frame and an elastic loop, saidelastic loop having a portion freely retained by said frame andconcealed within said enfolded fabric and having an exposed portionforming a button loop.

9. Suspender or shoulder strap comprising a length of fabric in enfoldedrelation with a unitary metallic slide and elastic loop, said slidehaving a transverse cross bar, said elastic loop having a portion freelyretained by said cross bar and concealed within said enfolded fabric,and

having a portion forming a button loo'p.

LYNDON W. JOYCE.

